Blue Rodeo by Jo-Ann Mapson

3 stars
R- 3
Language

Had a really hard time getting into this one-- mostly it just wasn't my style.  Took a little more than 180 pages before I was really compelled.

And the timeline at the end seemed off.  Which drives me nutty.

Overall, though, not a bad story.

If you like family dramas with romance, give it a try.

Reader's Choice winner 1995

Mothers and Other Liars by Amy Bourret

4 stars
R-2
VERY emotionally difficult in a "don't take my baby away" kind of way.
ARE provided for review

Wow.... interesting.

Very much a series of "what would you have done in her place" kinds of situations.  Extremely emotional.

Let me put it this way-- NOTHING makes me cry.... this one had me nearly sobbing.  Like, had to leave the room quickly before my kids started asking questions.

And since there's seriously no way to explain it without giving it away, I'm leaving it at that.

I Gave My Heart to Know This by Ellen Baker

4 stars
R- 2
Copy received for review

An interesting, if sort of convoluted, tale of choices and redemption.

**Be aware that if you struggle with post-partum depression there may be some parts of the novel that are a little too familiar to be comfortable**

This novel jumps around a lot-- between characters, between time periods, etc.  But it's pretty well done.

Some of the characters make decisions that seem crazy (from the cozy point-of-view of the present) while others are just plain crazy.  The shifting viewpoints round out the story nicely.

Overall, an interesting look at WWII, family dynamics, the choices we make and all the fallout one still feels decades later.

The Widower's Tale by Julia Glass

2.5 stars
r-2.5

So if Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and Friday Night Knitting Club had a love child-- it would be this book.

Told from 4 different perspectives (3 third person, 1 first person), this book covers a lot of the same themes at Friday Night Knitting Club. 

The major novelty?  All of the voices are male.  Which makes it really interesting.

Except in a lot of ways it's also the book's major fault.  Using male characters, it's a lot harder to get the emotional depth required thematically.

I loved the first person voice, but I couldn't stand his anger as the book went on. 

Overall, there was an awful lot of "why can't these characters see they're being complete idiots" in this book.

It was compelling, but the ending left be feeling at loose ends and very dissatisfied.

But I'm sure a lot of people are probably going to really enjoy it.  If you really enjoyed Major Pettigrew and Knitting Club you should probably give this one a try.

And it's a Reader's Choice book. :)

These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf

Oh wow.

Um.... I'm not sure how to rate this.

It was, overall, well-done.  It was compelling.  It was so, so hard to read.

Hard enough to read that I'm not sure I can recommend it... at least not without the strong warning that it's difficult.  (Especially if you've struggled with infertility, post-partum depression... etc.)

Told in alternating viewpoints, the story follows Allison, her sister Brynn, Charm, and Claire.  Allison and Brynn are first-person, Charm and Claire are third-person, which was a little jarring, but the flashbacks and jumping between viewpoints was well done.

The story that unfolds in heart-rending and the climax gut-wrenching, but the ending is ultimately hopeful, at least for Allison, who is the true protagonist.

Part mystery, part family drama, part coming-of-age.... I'm not sure what to call it.

Anyway.... I'm not sure if I'm glad I read it, but I know finishing it was better than not knowing the truth would have been.  (I almost put it down.)

Counts for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.